No One's First, And You're Next

As they’ve done before with *Building Nothing Out of Something* and *Everywhere and His Nasty Parlor Tricks*, *No One’s First, and You’re Next* is a collection of previously issued material. Gathering eight B-sides and sundry odds and ends from the past two releases (*Good News for People Who Love Bad News* and *We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank*) this retrospective contains some gems that no Modest Mouse fan should be without. Though the songs were recorded over the span of several years, the set doesn’t sound disjointed. Instead, it offers a fascinating look at the band’s range and evolution as well as further proof of Isaac Brock’s restless songwriting brilliance. There’s the quirky pop of “Satellite Skin” and the surreal, banjo-driven “King Rat,” the woozy sing-along “Perpetual Motion Machine” from the *Good News* sessions with horns by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and the melodic “I’ve Got it All (Most).” The album only runs about 33 minutes yet still feels substantial.

Collecting previously released songs from the late 00s, this comp is in the spirit of Building Nothing... and ...Parlour Tricks.

Every few years, Modest Mouse builds up enough odds and ends to warrant a compilation, but unlike with most bands, MM’s leftovers often end up among its best. (For evidence, see “Never Ending Math Equation” from 2000’s Building Nothing Out Of Something, or “Night On The Sun” from 2001’s Everywhere And His Nasty…

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Modest Mouse’s perfunctory b-sides collection is rich with the band’s trademarks: manic and self-deprecating disillusionment.

Modest Mouse - No One's First, and You're Next review: B-sides that sound better on the A side.